ECI notification triggers Odisha Rajya Sabha bypoll; nominations open June 1
Synopsis
A founder member of the BJD has quit the party, resigned his Rajya Sabha seat, and crossed over to the BJP — all within 48 hours. The ECI has now notified the Odisha Rajya Sabha bypoll, with polling set for 18 June. With the BJP controlling the Odisha assembly, the result is a near-certainty, but the contest is a fresh marker of the BJD's post-2024 unravelling.
Key Takeaways
The ECI notified the Odisha Rajya Sabha bypoll on 1 June 2025 ; nominations open the same day.
The vacancy was created by the resignation of Debashish Samantaray , who quit the BJD and the Upper House on 25 May .
Last date for nominations is 8 June ; polling, if required, is scheduled for 18 June .
Samantaray joined the ruling BJP on 26 May at the party's New Delhi headquarters.
The BJD's Rajya Sabha strength has fallen to five members following his departure.
Samantaray's term was originally set to run until April 2030 .
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday, 1 June formally notified the by-election to fill a vacant Rajya Sabha seat from Odisha, setting off the nomination process and placing the contest on a tight three-week schedule. The vacancy arose after former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) member Debashish Samantaray resigned from the Upper House on 25 May.
Key Dates in the Election Schedule
Odisha Assembly Secretary Satyabrata Raut informed reporters at a press conference in Bhubaneswar that nominations can be filed starting 1 June, with the last date for submission set at 8 June. Scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted on 9 June, and candidates may withdraw their candidatures until 11 June.
Should more than one candidate remain in the fray after the withdrawal deadline, polling will be held on 18 June, with vote counting to follow on the same day. Sahu has been appointed Returning Officer for the bypoll, with an Assembly Secretariat official designated as Assistant Returning Officer.
Why the Seat Fell Vacant
Samantaray, elected to the Rajya Sabha in April 2024, submitted his resignation to Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan on 25 May, cutting short a tenure that was otherwise scheduled to run until April 2030. In a letter to BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik, he cited continuous sidelining within the party as the reason for quitting its primary membership on the same day.
His departure is a notable blow to the BJD, reducing the regional party's strength in the Upper House to five members. Samantaray is a founder member of the party and a three-time MLA, having represented the Tirtol and Barabati-Cuttack constituencies across the 2000–2004, 2009–2014, and 2014–2019 assembly terms.
Samantaray Joins BJP
Just a day after resigning from the BJD, on 26 May, Samantaray formally joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at a programme held at the party's headquarters in New Delhi. The move signals a continued erosion of the BJD's legislative presence following the party's loss of power in Odisha in the 2024 state elections.
What Happens Next
With the BJP now controlling the Odisha Legislative Assembly, the party is widely expected to field a candidate who can command the majority of MLA votes in this indirect election. The outcome will further consolidate the BJP's footprint in the Upper House from the state. All eyes will be on whether the BJD fields a candidate of its own or abstains, given its diminished numbers on the floor.
Point of View
But the real story is what the BJD does next — field a candidate and absorb a likely defeat, or stand aside and quietly concede the seat. Either choice reflects the depth of the party's current bind.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Odisha Rajya Sabha bypoll 2025?
It is a by-election to fill a vacant Rajya Sabha seat from Odisha, notified by the Election Commission of India on 1 June 2025. The vacancy arose after BJD member Debashish Samantaray resigned from the Upper House on 25 May 2025.
What is the schedule for the Odisha Rajya Sabha bypoll?
Nominations open on 1 June and close on 8 June 2025. Scrutiny is on 9 June, the withdrawal deadline is 11 June, and polling — if more than one candidate remains — is scheduled for 18 June, with counting on the same day.
Why did Debashish Samantaray resign from the Rajya Sabha?
Samantaray resigned citing continuous sidelining within the BJD. He submitted his resignation from the party's primary membership to Naveen Patnaik and his Rajya Sabha seat to Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan on 25 May 2025, cutting short a term that was due to end in April 2030.
Which party is Debashish Samantaray now with?
Samantaray joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on 26 May 2025, a day after resigning from the BJD, at a programme held at the BJP's headquarters in New Delhi.
How does the bypoll affect the BJD's strength in the Rajya Sabha?
Samantaray's resignation reduced the BJD's Rajya Sabha strength to five members. With the BJP holding a majority in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, which elects the state's Rajya Sabha members, the ruling party is widely expected to win the bypoll.
